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Four
I spun around, struggling for words. “Um… isn’t that… dangerous? To mess with a person’s soul?” The idea of the Weaver holding sway over my soul, even in the smallest of ways, frightened me to my core, but I wanted to understand. I needed to understand.
“I don’t mess with your soul, Milly. I just use my magic to access your deepest desires and bring them to life within your dreams.”
I stopped moving and put my hands on my hips. “So you think my deepest desire is to be waited on by tanned pool boys in ancient Greece or fawned over by some long-lost desert prince?”
The Weaver strode forward, coming to stand directly in my path. A heaviness filled the space, his silver eyes swirling as they met mine.
I held my breath.
“Deep down, I think you are lonely, and my magic has a way of turning that into companionship within your dreams. Whether it be a forest full of playful fairy-tale creatures or a handsome prince, your soul is crying out for a partner, Milly. And I hope you pick me.”
I stood silent, gawking at the beautiful man in front of me as he crossed his arms over his broad chest. He wanted to be my partner. My counterpart, my king. And I think I wanted that too. Whether through my spell or not, there was something genuine about him. Something innocent despite his attempted bravado so far.
A gentle smile pulled at my lips. “As desperate as it makes me sound, I’m glad I passed your tests and you finally revealed yourself to me. I was starting to think I was going crazy… seeing the same man in every single one of my dreams.” I turned back to the next row of flowers, hiding my reddening cheeks.
“I’m glad too, Milly. Truly. I feel like I’ve been looking for you my entire life. And now… we can start your training.”
I spun back to face him. “Training?”
“Yes.” His eyes danced. “As my partner, you’ll need to learn how to hone your magic to use it in the dreamscape, balancing mine.”
“I can use real magic here?” The words stumbled out of me, the idea strange on my tongue. Every time I attempted it before, it sputtered out, reminding me I was inside a dream.
The Weaver reached for my hand. “As my partner, yes. You’ll be able to do anything you want. Even now, since we’ve found each other, your magic should react differently here.”
Warmth radiated from our joined hands, spreading up my arm and into my chest, causing my breasts to heave.
I gazed up at him from beneath my lashes. “I think I would like that very much.”
“Great. We’ll start tomorrow.”
“Why not now?” I asked, eager to stay with him for as long as I could and to learn something new.
“It’s late. You need to rest, and I need to prepare.
My brows dipped, my excitement waning. “What do you mean? Is it going to hurt?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. It’s just… I simply need to make sure there are no complications.”
I pulled my hand from his, rubbing the same spot in my chest that had now turned hollow and cold.
“Trust me, Milly. We’re going to be great together.”
Trust him. Did I? I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure quite yet. He seemed to be right about one thing, though: My soul did long for companionship. And wasn’t the intention of my spell tonight to reveal the truth? Yes, it was, I reminded myself, and I did want this. Admitting that was the first step toward trust—trusting myself and trusting him to see where this could go. Now I just had to take the leap.
“Okay. But if I need my rest, does that mean I’ll wake from this dream or simply fall into a deeper sleep?” Obviously, I had so much to learn.
“For now, you’ll slumber peacefully, waking as usual once your day begins.” My head bobbed in understanding, and a warm smile spread across his face. “Good night, Milly. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I lifted a hand and waved goodbye, happy to know I’d see him again soon.
The Weaver was right. I spent the rest of the night in a deep, dreamless sleep, waking at the crack of dawn, excited for my day.
“Hello, Jenks.” I ran a hand down my familiar’s back, his black fur soft and warm beneath my touch. “You did a good job last night, keeping me safe.” He nuzzled my side as I scratched behind his ears. “I have so much to tell you.”
Pushing from the bed, I walked to the kitchen and set the kettle to boil. I had no idea how I was going to occupy my mind all day, but at least I could keep my hands busy harvesting my basil, oregano, parsley, and the last of the thyme left on the stalks. After showering, dressing, and enjoying my morning cup of tea, I pulled on my mukluks and grabbed my basket sitting next to the back door.
